Information For Ordering Activities

APPLICABLE TO ALL SPECIAL ITEM NUMBERS

SPECIAL NOTICE TO AGENCIES:

Small Business Participation

SBA strongly supports the participation of small business concerns in the Federal Acquisition Service. To enhance Small Business Participation SBA policy allows agencies to include in their procurement base and goals, the dollar value of orders expected to be placed against the Federal Supply Schedules, and to report accomplishments against these goals.

For orders exceeding the micropurchase threshold, FAR 8.404 requires agencies to consider the catalogs/pricelists of at least three schedule contractors or consider reasonably available information by using the GSA Advantage!ä on-line shopping service (www.fss.gsa.gov). The catalogs/pricelists, GSA Advantage!ä and the Federal Acquisition Service Home Page (www.fss.gsa.gov) contain information on a broad array of products and services offered by small business concerns.

This information should be used as a tool to assist ordering activities in meeting or exceeding established small business goals. It should also be used as a tool to assist in including small, small disadvantaged, and women-owned small businesses among those considered when selecting pricelists for a best value determination.

For orders exceeding the micropurchase threshold, customers are to give preference to small business concerns when two or more items at the same delivered price will satisfy their requirement.